Consumer spending on mobile apps is projected to hit $270 billion by 2025. Your app needs to be perfect. The most important step is choosing the right mobile app developer for your custom software development needs.
Do you need a large-scale engineering team like Appinventiv for speed and scale? Or do you need a premium, design-focused mobile app developer like Fueled to create a stunning user experience? This choice defines your product and the success of your custom software development project. Let’s compare them to see which partner fits your project, budget, and goals.
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Company Overviews for US Businesses
In 2025, businesses are investing billions in digital products. Choosing the right partner to build your app is more important than ever. Two major players, Appinventiv and Fueled, offer very different approaches. Let’s look at who they are.
Appinventiv: The Digital Powerhouse
Appinventiv is known for its massive scale and rapid growth. Founded in India in 2015, the company was built for high-volume custom software development work.
- Fast Growth: The company grew from a small team to over 1,600 employees.
- By the Numbers: Appinventiv reports over $25 million in recent revenue and has completed more than 3,000 projects.
- Who They Serve: Their clients range from new startups to large Fortune 500 companies.
The Bottom Line: Appinventiv’s size means they have deep experience and can handle almost any project. However, rapid growth can sometimes lead to inconsistent quality. The specific team you get assigned is crucial to your project’s success.
Fueled: The Premium Design Agency
Fueled has a long history as a top-tier, award-winning agency from New York. They focus on creating beautiful and effective products.
A major change happened in 2023 when Fueled merged with 10up, an expert web development agency. This move created a more powerful, all-in-one partner for major brands seeking end-to-end custom software development.
- A New Team: The combined company has over 300 experts in app design, web engineering, and product strategy.
- Their Focus: They now build entire “digital ecosystems” for enterprise clients, not just single apps.
- Who They Serve: Their client list includes global brands like Microsoft, Disney, and Harvard.
The Bottom Line: The new Fueled is a powerful choice for large companies that need a complete, multi-platform digital solution. This premium service and expanded capability come with a higher price tag.
Core Services Compared: A Guide for US Companies
Appinventiv and Fueled offer different services that show what they care about most. Appinventiv provides a huge menu of tech services, positioning itself as a hub for large-scale custom software development. Fueled focuses on top-quality design and product strategy.
What services does each mobile app developer offer?
Appinventiv: A Wide Range of Tech Services
Appinventiv is a full-service digital engineering partner. They can handle the entire product lifecycle, from the first idea to the final launch and beyond, offering a complete custom software development lifecycle. Their work is heavily focused on the technology itself.
Based on 2025 industry data, here is where they focus their efforts:
- Building Mobile Apps: 40%
- Creating Custom Software: 30%
- Artificial Intelligence (AI): 20%
They also have teams dedicated to Data Science, Cloud services, and Blockchain.
Fueled: A Focus on Premium Design
Fueled concentrates on the key elements that make a product feel special to the user, applying a boutique approach to custom software development. Their goal is to combine great design with solid engineering. Following their 2023 merger with web expert 10up, they now offer a powerful mix of mobile and web skills.
Their service focus looks like this:
- Building Mobile Apps: 50%
- User Experience & Design (UX/UI): 20%
- Custom Software and Web Development: 20%
Innovation vs design focus
Both companies build innovative products, but they see innovation differently.
When it comes to custom software development, Appinventiv’s approach is tech-first. They build with the newest technologies like AI and blockchain to make sure apps are powerful, secure, and ready for the future. Choose Appinventiv if your goal is an app built with the most advanced technology on the market.
Fueled’s approach is design-first. They use technology to create amazing and beautiful user experiences. They built an award-winning app that lets you virtually try on glasses. Choose Fueled if your goal is an app that wins design awards and is incredibly easy for people to use.
Pricing & Value: What US Companies Can Expect to Invest
The cost of working with Appinventiv versus Fueled is one of their biggest differences. One offers affordable scale, while the other provides premium quality for high-stakes custom software development.
Hourly rate comparison
The pricing for each agency puts them in completely different categories. With over 70% of new tech startups in 2025 citing budget overruns as a major risk, this choice is critical for any custom software development budget.
Appinventiv is the budget-friendly option. Their pricing makes them a good choice for startups and large companies looking to control costs.
- Hourly Rate: $25 – $49 / hour
- Minimum Project Size: $50,000+
Fueled is a premium partner. They do not list an hourly rate, but their projects show a significant investment is needed.
- Hourly Rate: Not publicly listed
- Typical Project Size: $200,000 – $999,999
Value for money
While the prices are very different, clients of both companies report getting good value. But “value” means something different for each one.
Appinventiv’s value is about getting more for your budget. The lower cost means more development hours, a bigger team, or more features for your money. This is great for building a feature-rich first version of an app. This model for custom software development prioritizes scope over polish initially. The risk is that the quality can sometimes be inconsistent, which could lead to extra costs for rework.
Fueled’s value is about investing in a top-tier product. Clients know the cost is high but say the final result is worth it. The value comes from expert strategy, award-winning design, and a polished product that strengthens the brand. Their brand of custom software development is an investment in market leadership, not just development hours.
On the review site Clutch, Appinventiv scores slightly higher on “Cost” than Fueled. This does not mean it’s a better deal. It means value depends on expectations. Appinventiv’s clients expect a lot of work for a low price and are happy when they get it. Fueled’s clients expect a world-class product for a premium price and are happy when the result is excellent.
Team Capabilities: Assessing a Partner for Your US-Based Project
The team that handles your custom software development has a direct impact on the final product. A 2025 market report shows that projects with highly-skilled, integrated teams are twice as likely to meet their goals. Appinventiv uses a massive team for scale, while Fueled uses a smaller group of elite experts.
Developer strength & team size
The size of each company’s team shows how they operate.
Appinventiv has a huge team of engineers.
- Size: Over 1,600 tech experts.
- Capability: This massive team has completed over 3,000 projects. They have deep skills in many areas, like AI and Blockchain, and can start new custom software development projects quickly.
- Best for: Projects that need a lot of development power and a wide range of technical specialists.
Fueled has a smaller, hand-picked team.
- Size: 300+ experts working remotely around the world.
- Capability: The focus is on the high quality and experience of each team member, not the total number. They are a smaller group of senior-level product thinkers.
- Best for: Projects that need a small, elite team of strategic product developers.
The choice is a trade-off. Appinventiv offers you a large team right away. Fueled offers you a more select group of top experts, but their availability may be more limited.
Development process
Both companies use an Agile process, but their approach feels different.
Appinventiv follows a structured and efficient process. They are like a well-organized machine. The process is clear, with regular updates using tools like Jira and Skype. Clients praise their communication and on-time delivery. This is perfect if you have a clear plan and need a reliable team to build it, making their process ideal for straightforward custom software development tasks.
Fueled works as a collaborative and strategic partner. They do more than just follow instructions. They work with you to improve your initial idea and will challenge your assumptions to make the product better, which is a hallmark of high-end custom software development partnerships. They act as an extension of your own company. This is ideal if you have a vision and want an expert partner to help you perfect it.
Key Projects & Clients: A Portfolio Review for US Stakeholders
An agency’s past work is the best proof of its skill. A 2025 survey found that over 80% of business leaders rely on case studies when choosing a custom software development partner. Appinventiv’s client list shows its work across many industries. Fueled’s list shows its focus on top-tier tech and media brands.
Highlight clients
A look at their client lists shows the different worlds they operate in.
Appinventiv works with a wide variety of businesses. Their client list includes:
- Well-known brands like KFC, Pizza Hut, and Adidas.
- Major consulting firms like KPMG.
- Government organizations in India and Qatar.
This wide range shows they can bring digital solutions to almost any industry, showcasing their versatile custom software development capabilities.
Fueled focuses on top-tier tech and media companies. Their client list includes:
- Tech giants like Apple, Microsoft, and Google.
- Media leaders like Disney, HBO, and The New York Times.
- Fast-growing brands like Warby Parker and Crunchbase.
This focused list shows they are trusted by digital industry leaders.
Notable app results
The success stories each company shares reveal what they value most.
Appinventiv focuses on business growth and efficiency. Their results are measured with clear business numbers.
- For KFC, they increased sales by 22% and got 60% more repeat customers.
- For Adidas, their app was downloaded over 2 million times.
- For the startup JobGet, they helped the company raise $52 million.
Fueled focuses on brand impact and user engagement. Their success is measured by industry awards and user loyalty.
- For Warby Parker, they created a feature that won Apple’s App of the Year award.
- For Ikon Pass, their app led to 80% higher membership renewals from users.
- For 9GAG, their work helped the platform reach 3.5 billion monthly views.
The results tell a clear story. Appinventiv proves its value by helping a business run better and grow bigger. Fueled proves its value by making a brand more innovative and loved by its users. You must decide which of these results is more important for your business.
Pros and Cons
Making a big decision is tough, but a simple pros and cons list can improve your choice by over 60%, according to a 2025 business study. Here is a clear summary of the strengths and weaknesses for each agency.
Appinventiv strengths
Pros
- Great Price: With rates between $25 and $49 per hour, you get more development work for your money.
- Huge Team: The team of over 1,600 engineers can handle large, complex projects and scale up quickly.
- Wide Range of Tech Skills: They have expert teams for many modern technologies, including AI, Blockchain, and Cloud services.
- Good for Startups: They have a proven record of helping startups build products that have raised over $800 million in funding.
- Good Project Management: Clients often praise their strong communication and focus on success.
Con The main downside is that quality can be inconsistent. Because the team is so large, project delays or communication gaps can sometimes happen in such a large-scale custom software development environment.
Fueled strengths
Pros
- Award-Winning Design: They are famous for creating beautiful, high-quality apps that users love.
- Prestigious Reputation: Working with Fueled adds credibility to your project, as their client list includes major tech and media giants.
- A True Partner: They act as strategic advisors in the custom software development process who help improve and elevate your product ideas.
- Excellent Quality: Clients agree that the final product is exceptional, justifying the high price.
- Web and Mobile Experts: After merging with 10up, they can deliver complete digital systems for both web and mobile.
Con The biggest downside is the high cost. With projects often costing hundreds of thousands of dollars, their services are too expensive for many early-stage companies.
Final Verdict
Choosing between Appinventiv and Fueled is about choosing your priority. Studies in 2025 show that projects with clearly defined goals from the start are 50% more likely to succeed. The right partner is the one that matches your main goal.
Here is a final guide to help you decide.
Choose Appinventiv if…
- Your main goal is to stick to a tight budget.
- You are a startup that needs to build a solid first product quickly to attract investors.
- You need a team with many different tech skills, like AI or Blockchain.
- You have a strong internal team that can manage the custom software development project closely.
- You need to hire a large number of developers for a big project fast.
Choose Fueled if…
- Your main goal is to create a premium brand with a perfect user experience.
- You have a larger budget and want the best possible product for long-term value.
- You want a partner who will help you with strategy, not just build what you ask.
- You need one expert team to build both your mobile app and your company website.
- Success for you means winning awards and creating a product that users love.
Now you know what to look for in a partner. The right team makes all the difference.
If you are ready to build an app that delivers results, contact us. Let’s discuss your project.